Just Posted: Fujifilm X100S first-look preview

Just posted: Our hands-on first look at the Fujifilm X100S. Fujifilm's update of its large sensor, fixed lens X100 adds significant upgrades, including a 16MP X-Trans CMOS sensor with on-chip phase detection AF, a higher resolution LCD display in its unique Hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder, and the company's latest user interface. But there's a whole host of smaller improvements too, which promise to iron out many of the X100's particular quirks. In our first look preview, we take a detailed look through what's changed compared to its predecessor.

Comments

Guys, Fuji repairs all SAB affected cameras even after the warranty expired. I got that in writing from Fuji support and am not worried at all. They know they will lose customers if they don't fix this quality related issue. I will keep my x100 and don't upgrade. The s is tempting but I rather wait for a new Xpro-2 with all the nice new features ;)

the launching price is just right, over the time it will drop to a more sensible range, freeing the market for the upgrade, it is unfortunate this price would cut into xpro and xe's future value, and even so to xe since it has just been released.

as a xpro owner i am aware of my investment being diminishing day after day, but my enjoyment with my investment also accumulates over time, as i get to carry a camera going out more often.

Not so sure it will drop in price until the next version comes out. The X100 had a few deals that came about over the last couple years, but for the most part the price remained steady since release until now.

I think Nikon's mirrorless cameras are better than Canon's one model so far. I know Nikon gets a lot of flack for their 1-series, but they're full of very innovative features that will get you some photos a lot easier. The Canon has camera, a primarily photographic tool, has........good video?

I hope someone at Fuji is reading these comments, for old blokes who cut their teeth on film with a 50mm lens, most of us had a 35mm as well. From what I understood this was the Cartier Bresson kit, 2 cameras, each with a fast prime.

50mm is likely closest to what the eye sees.

This x100s looks like closing in on getting the camera part just right, maybe another 1-2 generations away, though even now a 50mm f1.4 (or faster) fixed lens equivalent version would be just the ticket and the one I would likely buy first - later with a 35mm equivalent over the other shoulder.

For me at least, photographs don't get better, only the gear does. In any event very well done Fuji, you are developing the X series into something very special indeed.

If you want that 50/1.4, go ahead and get the XE-1 with the 35/1.4 for an effective 53mm. What's the problem there?

There is a reason the X100(s), the Leica X1, X2, Sony RX1, iPhone, and many successful film p&s's are 35mm, it's very versatile. IMO, 35mm captures what I see in front of me. 50mm feels a bit like tunnel vision. Plus with today's resolutions, you can always crop a 35mm to a 50mm FOV. Can't go the other way though.

I have an X100, and my favourite focal length is 50 mm. I also own the X-Pro 1 and 35 mm prime.

Funny thing is that I actually think that the X100 is far more flexible, and if I had to carry around only one camera on a vacation in a big city, or countryside, or a friend's house, etc etc, it would be the X100 over the X-Pro 1 with 35 mm lens.

I love my x100, but I have two concerns that are not mentioned in the preview. The shutter lag, not from the autofocus, but the crazy aperture dance the camera does befor every shot, and second, the terrible overlay of the distance scale which obscures the bottom of the viewfinder in manual focus mode (and which they won't let you turn off in manual mode)

We have seen the camera in person - the preview is based on a not-fully-working pre-production camera Fujifilm showed us in December, that was also clearly non-final in terms of rear controls. This is stated perfectly clearly in the preview.

The combination of a sharp 23 f2 lens, a good performing sensor, and Fuji's terrific colors, X100 images often seem to look better to me than other APS-C cameras. Even, in some ways, better than images from the excellent 16 mp Exmor sensor found in the D7000. Processing NEFs in LR4 will likely be a bit more straightforward than X-Tran images from the X100s, but Nikon's color pallet just isn't quite as nice as Fuji's.

Youngsters who will use 6x6 analogue cams and larger will soon be surprised how shallow is DOF. Even with 50mm lens near subjects are a problem, not getting enough DOF in the background. IN contrary of this rotating pancams like roundshot 220vr can be tilted and DOF will easily be increased. Since only slit in center is used its no problems getting anything sharp. AND: tilting is also shifting.

I had a Fuji 690 (and the electronic 645). Fabulous cameras with superb lenses and viewfinders. But the 690 suffered from a serious problem; it was not possible to get the whole of a landscape in sharp focus due to the shallow dof even at the smallest aperture. Sensors can be too big.As for the unending resolution of MF, yes it's over 5 times higher than 35mm film but my D800 extracts more res than the 690 with Provia or Velvia and the colours are far better.Fuji should concentrate on releasing a very high resolution 35mm digital rangefinder based on the 645 that is free of the usual gimmicks (face recognition, scene selection and all the usual useless clutter). They wouldn't be able to make such a camera fast enough.

No. They never publicly admitted the problem, treating it as a warrantee repair. Fine for some, but leaving me with a $900 paperweight (paperwork was in a bag that got stolen). Also makes the 2nd user market a minefield too.

Truth benders like rusticus above let their loyalty and love of the camera get in the way of the real truth, never supplying a link to the official announcement of the problem and fix when challenged to do so.

Contrast that with Canon, who still fix original 5D unstuck mirrors issues without question. Their problem, so they fix it.

"A Canon spokesperson told CPN: “We offer our most sincere apologies to customers using this product who have been inconvenienced by this issue. Going forward, we will spare no effort in our quality management to make sure our customers can use our products with confidence.”

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/news/eos_5d_mirror_repair.do

If Fuji acted like this I'd buy their nice cameras with the same confidence I buy Canon/Olympus

I must say, although I love this concept of camera, that Najinsky seems to be true to me. I've gone through many discussions where "in-siders" said : only those cameras s/n up to 11xxx are wrong, then they had to admit : up to 12xxx, then 13xxx - but - they said - no more, but 14xxx came inevitably too. Now they say that from s/n 21xxx it is OK, but ... . If nothing else, this history tells that Fuji did not solve this problem a whole year and never said a word about this problem. That's why I am careful now to see the same lens on X100s. It is a pity, because I love this concept, but I cannot compromise with quality.

zinedi, I would be shocked if the new camera suffers the same problem. I'd be pretty confident that the manufacturing issue that led to this defect was indeed resolved some time ago.

What I mean by the issue not being fixed is, at least as far as I'm concerned, they have not handled resolving the issues for all those currently afflicted with it, nor for those who will likely be afflicted with in the future, to anything near a satisfactory level. Poles apart from the professional approach shown by Canon (and some others).

The user experience in getting this resolved, due to no offical acknowledgement, has been somewhat of a lucky-dip based on where you are in the world. A situation I have no doubt will turn more chaotic as stocks of existing X100 are run down (there must surely be a quantity of unsold units that were manufactured with the defect), and as upgraders send their current models into the 2nd user market.

"I'd be pretty confident that the manufacturing issue that led to this defect was indeed resolved some time ago."On which facts do you base this statement - and what is "some" time? Or is it your mere hope or confidence? - as you say, but it doesn't satisfy me unless you are Fuji employee, which is not very probable. I don't believe to fanboys wishes - I believe facts - see the list of defective s/n. If I see any report about the same SAB problem on X100s - some time after the start of distribution, I never buy it and never trust Fuji any more.

When I called Fuji to get my X100 that suffered from SAB repaired the Fuji Rep explained to me that there is no excuse for what happened, but it was a quality control issue that occurred as a result of the Tsunami that affected some lens assemblies manufactured through Nov 2011 that included s/n 12XXX-14XXX. At that point he said they were sent all new replacement lens assemblies and discarded the old ones. He said that as long as you can furbish proof of purchase they would honor the repair under warranty even if it has expired. Mine was about 8mos. out. Sent it in and a week later I had it back, cleaned with a new lens assembly and strap lugs.

So I'd say the problem has been resolved.

It doesn't take much for a small issue to seem like an epidemic on the web. It's entirely possible that the problem isn't widespread enough for Fuji to feel the need to make an official statement.

"..he said they were sent all new replacement lens assemblies and discarded the old ones."You don't know how I desire to believe you (or him), but I am not naive. How you explain that there are reported 2x or even 3x repaired the same cameras with the same SAB problem? It stinks a bit. And I deeply regret those people who buy second-hand X100 - they will have maybe one week of fun before they get to know that they lost money and good temper - especially when that happens on their holiday.

I find I often have to make a call without access to all the facts, so I just use the best information I have, with caution.

In this case it's just my common sense. All big companies monitor their return rates, it's basic business, and it feeds back into the quality control process.

As I said "I'd be pretty confident", it's just an opinion, a confident one.

One thing to be careful about, is false reports of SAB. Some people just get caught out by some the the X100s metering traps (for example parallax when using spot meter through the OVF).

Being pedantic, there are no officially confirmed reports of SAB, simply because SAB is not an officially acknowledged problem!!

I think there's strong evidence that SAB has been occurring far less on later models, suggesting the problem has been worked on. As I say, it's their failure to fix the mess they created that I have a bigger issue with. Fear of SAB is part of that mess.

Individual case reports only relate one story. What happened to one person.

For me, the best thread to see the full scope of the mess is on clubSnap (a large Asia based photography site). This is a good thread for anyone interested looking objectively at the full scope of the issue, both good and bad.

Well, my last word to this. Do not teach a bird to fly. I was really so interested in this problem, that I studied many user reactions and fuji repair shops reactions - so I could easily contradict to your arguments (if they are arguments - I think they are only wishes). It is not my bussiness to warn someone who does not want to see evidence. Some people must touch the hot stove to believe it really hurts (and some are even willing to touch it twice). Thanks.

4) Clearly some sh*t goes down with the service centre and at least one staff resigns due to depression.

5) Eventually, 'Da management' contacts User B and replaces the camera for free but with a warning that the replacement only has a 3 month warrantee and if the issue reoccurs after that the repair will not be free again.

6) User C reports problem with their X10 but doesn't have their warrantee papers. Fuji says no problem, they can tell from their serial number database that camera has a warrantee.

This demonstrates the confusion Fuji has created by their lack of clarity.

- The response you get depends on who gets your case.- Their own staff are getting stressed by the lack of clarity.- Repairs may or not get re-repaired free if/when it re-occurs- They know which camera serials were sold with full warrantee so could simplify the repair process for this issue without a full paper trail, if they officially acknowledge it and cared to.

zinedi, I talked to the rep for awhile and one of the things he did say was that cameras that were repaired early on could have had faulty replacement lens assemblies installed and had to be in for repairs more than once. The new assemblies are all fine and it's not something I needed to worry about.

Also, if you buy used, just make sure you get a copy of the original receipt. That way you can still get it repaired out of warranty. Otherwise look for cameras with later S/N's.

How shallow do you need to go??There's a lot more to photography than impressing the kids with the ohhs and ahhs of how out-of-focus most of your image is. Of course, for subject separation and creative imagery, being able to achieve a narrow plane of focus is great, but not every picture needs to be shot at F/1.4

Itsastickup, this is exactly how I've felt since the introduction of the camera. I would have dropped $1200 in a heartbeat for a 50-equiv. The 35 FOV is great for some, but a choice would have been nice.

Those who are happy with the 35-equivalent lens seem to be under the impression that the rest of us aren't allowed to wish for something else.

People seem to forget, when a 35mm was the "standard" for street photography, it was actually 35mm. Those lenses could still give a reasonable DOF-effect if asked nicely (just look at the Sony RX1). 23mm precludes this almost entirely, unless you're taking macro shots.

Maybe there's more to photography than shallow depth of field, but most of the shots I've ever seen from the X100 look like they were taken with a point and shoot, thanks entirely to the lens.

Oh, and HCB's favorite lens was his 50. ;)

P.S. - Add a 0.5x converter for a 50/25 kit, and I might never need another camera again. One can dream.

itsastickup - You can still get shallow depth of field with the X100...you just need to focus on a close subject. Still, I know what you are getting at. I have never liked the idea of being limited to one focal length...which is why I bought the XPro:)

If there are no 50mm fixed lens cameras then how can we know what the market really is since no one can buy one? Are you assuming that the manufacturers are right? In any case it's obvious enough that I am not the only one in the market for a fixed 50mm (equiv) lens. And let's be clear: a fixed 50mm equiv large aperture. 35/2.8 would not be enough.

When I first got my X100 I wished it was a 50mm equiv. After shooting with it for almost 2 years now, I've grown to really appreciate the 35mm. It's extremely versatile and perfect for that everyday walk-around camera. Still, I'd love a conversion lens for my X100 to make it a 50mm.

At the risk of sounding perhaps a little bit churlish, I rather wish Fujifilm would get on with the production of their promised X-mount lenses before trying to turn my head with more new camera models.

There is a road map for the lenses, that was published a long time ago.As long a Fujifilm sticks to this time table I don't see any need to complain.The road map can be found here: http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/xf_lens/roadmap/

As it stands, your comment is unmistakably unfair. Fuji long ago laid out their lens roadmap and they have completely adhered to it. Your comment suggests not introducing new cameras would speed up their roadmap, which is entirely illogical.

So far it looks like Fuji are keeping to their Lensmap (thanks for the link TheDreamingWatchman). It that remains the case then I'll be happy to have a Fuji X series as my next camera. It looks like they are thinking about photographers. It is also reassuring that they appear not to be joining the ever higher megapixel count race.

Might as well go for the X-Pro then if you're going to be switching up converters like that. And it's impressive enough that they pulled off a great quality 28mm conversion, is a quality and good-looking 50 or even 85mm equiv converter even possible I wonder.

I appreciate some progress (especially if split-image MF will be usable in practice). But I am deeply disappointed that the old unreliable SAB prone lens was not replaced. I'll wait about 1/2 year to see some service reports - if the lens is likely to survive at least 2-year's working cycle.

The lens hasn't been prone to SAB since 2011. They replaced the lens assembly and those complaints stopped on the newer cameras. I'm sure there will be glitches and problems with the X100s, but I'd be EXTREMELY surprised if that's one of them. Just like the X20 may have its share of issues but you can bet it won't have orbs!

"The lens hasn't been prone to SAB since 2011."It is certainly Not my case (and not only mine). I bought X100 in 03/2012 and I had to return it due to SAB after a 1/2 year and ~3000 clicks. I want to hope that Fuji did revise the design or manufacture inspection, but I'll be careful.

But I hope you don't think, that the manufacturer is not responsible for every sold camera, whenever it is sold a/o manufactured? Nobody knows the precise numbers of defective cameras, but internet echo of them was - in my opinion - a bit stronger and longer in time than is usual for every new model.

Yes they did redesigned it. But what about people like me who didnt' shoot their X100 much and who got the problem after the end of warranty period ?There were so many problems about this that I'm astounded Fuji just ignored us regarding this issue. So basically....as an early adopter I got screwed by Fuji because of their product design error. They didn't take responsibilities for this and that is a huge disappointment.

How can I be willing going for an other Fuji camera again and spend 1300$ in it again ?People may say: hey, I don't have a problem with mine. Well that's fine until it happens to you.

For 1300 I by an ICL camera, not a fixed focal length. This camera is worth 800$, and that is high priced. Compare Olympus Pen series, Pana GX1, Sony Nex series and you look at this. The times we pay for a name are over. All it needs now is a blue dot to make a reason to pay so much for it. Remember Fuji introducing the S5 for 3200$,naked body. The day they stopped producing it, they scavenged their stocks and sold it for 750$. So, this gives you an idea what it is worth. Bought mine new at that time for 620 euros, and for that price it was to take without any doubt.

Olympus and and Panasonic are m43 sensors, while very good and vary usefull you can't compare it to a VERY good if not the best out there APS-C size sensor in Fuji that is almost on par with some full frames cameras!Nex series is nice but lenses are shall we say "scarce" and are huge if you compare it to this.

Shamal- add a high quality f2.0 lens to the micro four thirds camera and the price goes up. On top of that fuji gives you not only an evf but an ovf too and hybrid mode to boot (the only one so far in the entire world)

Shamael - I laugh at you people who make posts like the 'X100 is worth $800'....no...it is worth $1300 which is why it will be backordered the second it is available. The old, used X100's are selling for $800, so you are right about that.

Just because you wish an Audi RS5 was $25k does not make it worth $25k

As a man who has had (and has) many cameras, I can assure you that I will be purchasing both this and the X20. My X100 has already paid for itself though my professional work and the X100S is going to be a welcome addition to my collection. Fuji has been on a roll year after year with the X series.

Happy to see Fuji improve this nice camera! And it's nice to have a fixed lens option/version of the pro1/xe1. Also nice to see APSC continue to improve and evolve, staying ahead of the smaller sensor MFT category. Definitely strong price competition for the superior full frame RX1, but it has it's work cut out for it if you think outside the box for a fixed lens... because some of the apsc and mft are at a similar price point with a lens - like slapping on a 30mm F2 onto a Samsung NX20 (which is my setup) or NX300, as well as the MFT competition which doesn't match this in IQ but comes close. This segment is getting more popular and more crowded... competition that will benefit us photographers. With this segment getting more crowded the best strategy would be to wait it out until prices start dropping by a 25% or so.

Sony's slower lens negates the advantage of the larger sensor, and the Fuji's sensor is two years younger. The resolution should be about the same, too. And the Fuji should focus faster.So, I'm curious, what makes the RX1 "superior" in your mind?

Borisk1 - How do you figure the resolution is the same....the Sony is a 24MP sensor, the Fuji is a 16. They both have fixed lenses with 35mm equivalency so on any given final image the Sony will always have more resolution as both cameras depict the same FOV.

The greater pixel density of the Fuji is irrelevant when you can't change lenses....the FOV of the two cameras is the same.

The Sony uses a conventional Bayer sensor that has to sacrifice about 10% of linear resolution (about 20% in terms of MP count) to AA filter. Fuji doesn't. From resolution page of X-Pro test: "In fact, in terms of resolution it's very close indeed to the 24MP Sony NEX-7". (X-Pro uses the same sensor).Oh, and while you're looking at X-Pro test, compare RAW noise levels and DR against the SLT-A99 (same sensor as RX-1). There's very little, if any, advantage over the Fuji.

You are conflating 2 different issues to distract from the fact that the sensor deserved to be in the premium camera. The XE 1 is barely a month old in some places yet they managed to develop a new sensor in that time.

To rub more salt in the wounds they now have a 'coming soon' sticker on their website under X system/ Do they really hold the pro users in that much contempt. .

It's not over-priced. It is a kick in the teeth for XE-1 owners though. Fuji would have been prudent to delay these cameras until at least March, but CES and CP+ proved to much to resist I guess. Still, anyone who buys a camera in the first 3 months after release deserves to get burnt like that, can't say I have any sympathy.

I guess they put the new sensor in x100s not x e1 cos they want to put a clear distinction between different generations of the system. The x e1 is probably put in the first generation as was meant to be the cheaper version from the x pro. Just like the x 20, the x f1 did not use the same x trans as now in x20.

You fail to understand how R&D works. It takes time to bring a product to market. At the conception of the product, you use whatever sensor you have available. It takes time to mass produce the sensors, and to assemble the cameras. If the new sensor was available, they would have used it in the X-E1. It doesn't matter, because the X-E1 takes awesome photos.

P.S. Andy. Are you now going to actually buy a camera instead of just talking about them? They have a new sensor, so it must be great, eh?

Yes I agree that Fuji should delay all their camera's until they fix every possible issue and develop the perfect camera.Hopefully they will still be in business and reach a perfection that is so Amazing that no new development makes them be perceived as to have "kicked their last models owners in the teeth"In fact Why did canon ever put out the 5d and or 5d MKII? I mean they really should have bought out no models and just waited until they could have bought the 5DIII to market.Same for all manufacturers. What were they all thinking!

Sarcasm mode off:

You guys are unbelievable. The XE-1 was announced ages ago and was on the planning desks possibly 18 months or more ago. The X100S is obviously part of a much latter development cycle and will hence benefit from newer technology WHEN it actually makes market.Not everything is a conspiracy!

The XE1 is not "the premium camera", its the budget model with basically identical performance to the X-Pro but without some of the features, most notably the hybrid viewfinder, which is part and parcel of this series. The X100 was the leading edge of the X-series and it makes perfect sense for it to get the upgrades first as its first in the development cycle. This is a kick in the teeth to no one - by that logic there would never be any advances in camera tech.

I'm afraid that's just the way it is with technology these days. Despite the high prices and rangefinder looks these are internally computers, with incremental upgrades planned in advance. Either be prepared to pay a lot more, or keep enjoying what you have until the next set of 'irresistible' upgrades, as its never going to end.

In this case of course it's an upgrade to a different line, it will be a while before this makes it to their more versatile interchangeable models. It is a scary thing to invest in a camera, especially lower-end ones that chane more often, but that's the whole technology thing.